Expansion of the Beach Corridor

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has awarded the project for the Expansion of the Beaches Corridor to Constructora MECO, SA, which submitted the lowest financial proposal during the bidding process.

MECO, SA’s bid amounted to $228,451,693, significantly under the project’s reference price of $250 million. In contrast, the I&C Campana Consortium, made up of Ininco, SA and Constructora Urbana, SA (CUSA), submitted a bid of $265,313,000.

This project involves the segment of the Pan-American Highway El Espino–Sajalices and the Campana Bypass, which has been declared of public interest by the Government.

The expansion will span approximately 20 kilometers of road and will increase the lanes from four to six. This will extend from the entrance of the Los Calderones Estate in La Chorrera to the bridge over the Sajalices River in Chame.

Additionally, the project will include:

• Widening of vehicular bridges
• Construction of interchanges and return lanes
• Rehabilitation and creation of new pedestrian bridges

According to the MOP, the project will be executed in three primary sections:

La Chorrera (Los Calderones) to Capira:

Length: 10.10 kilometers

Three lanes in each direction

Aimed at improving traffic flow at a highly congested area.

Capira (Banco Nacional–Quesos Chela):

Length: 2 kilometers

Features three lanes in each direction, service roads, and a design speed of 60 km/h, suitable for urban zones with significant commercial activity.

Capira to the Entrance of Campana:

Also consists of three lanes in each direction

Designed for a speed of 80 km/h, facilitating smoother traffic towards the interior of the country.

A notable aspect of the project is the inclusion of the Loma Campana Bypass, extending 3 kilometers, with 800 meters dedicated to a six-lane viaduct, akin to the La Chorrera viaduct.

This infrastructure is designed for a speed of 60 km/h and features a maximum gradient of 6%. The viaduct will be constructed using prestressed beams or the double cantilever technique.

This project is part of the broader initiative to widen the Beaches Corridor to six lanes, specifically in the La Chorrera–Santa Cruz section, where the MOP has already inaugurated a 1,750-meter-long viaduct with a platform width of 26.50 meters and six traffic lanes.